Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Monday launched a scathing attack on dissident MPs, claiming that voters in their respective constituencies had outright rejected NDA candidates to back the INDIA bloc. He alleged that despite this clear public mandate, sheer “greed” led these lawmakers to “shamelessly” abandon the trust of the electorate overnight. In a sharp post on the social media platform X, Thackeray further charged that the loyalty and reputation of these dissidents were up for sale, while accusing the current government of institutional bias and misusing public funds for political gains.

Defections Loom as Shiv Sena (UBT) Faces Major Internal Split

Thackeray’s fierce remarks come amid intensifying signs of a major split within the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction. Maharashtra Minister and Shiv Sena leader Pratap Sarnaik claimed on Monday that six Shiv Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha members are on the verge of formally switching sides to join the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. If these defections materialize, they will significantly boost the Shinde faction’s strength in the Lok Sabha, potentially pushing their seat count from seven to 13.

Key MPs Formally Announce Breakaway from Uddhav Camp

The political tremor within the opposition camp has already begun to solidify as prominent MPs Omraje Nimbalkar and Nagesh Ashtikar formally announced their decision to split from the Shiv Sena (UBT). Their official departure marks a significant blow to the party’s parliamentary presence and sets the stage for a dramatic realignnment of loyalty ahead of the upcoming political developments in Maharashtra.